According to Rhode Island General Law (RIGL) 44-34-2 the Town is required to assess a tax against every trailer or vehicle registered in the town for the privilege of having the registration. The motor vehicle tax is based on the year, make, and model identified on the registration; mileage and condition of the vehicle are not a consideration in the basis for taxation.

Motor Vehicle tax bills are always paid in arrears. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains their records for the calendar year (January 1 through December 31). They then process their records and send them to each community in the early part of the year. In Westerly, the bills are issued in July, at the beginning of the fiscal year. A bill received in July is actually for the previous calendar year.

It is also important to remember that because the tax bill is generated by your registration, if you did not return your plates to the DMV, you will be continued to be taxed until you do so, or until the plates expire due to non-renewal.

Under RIGL 44-34-11, The Rhode Island Vehicle Value Commission isresponsible for determining the value of most vehicles, using the NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) values. In the event that the vehicle is an exotic make or model, the responsibility is then shifted to the Assessor, who assesses the vehicle in a uniform way.

The exemption is currently $500.00 from The State of RI and $1000.00 from the Town of Westerly, which is prorated for the number of days in which you hold a valid Rhode Island registration. If, after prorating the value of your vehicle it is less than the exemption amount, you will not receive a tax bill for that vehicle. In cases where a resident owns more than one vehicle appearing on the same bill, the exempted vehicle will show a zero tax amount. Please note that no bill will be generated if all vehicles fall below the exempted amount.

Because the RI DMV maintains the database for all registered vehicles and trailers, we use the most current address that they have on file. If the DMV has not been notified that you have moved, as required by law, then they and this office will have no knowledge that you are no longer living in Westerly RI. You will not be exempt from paying tax if you live outside of RI but have kept your RI plates. You are taxed on the number of days in which you have a valid RI registration.

You must change your address with the DMV. You may visit any local branch or their website (www.dmv.ri.gov) to get the change of address form. As they only update our records once a year, it may take some time to see that change. For example, if you change your address in October, we will not receive that notification until the next data transfer in February. In addition, you should fill out a change of address form with the Assessment Department, 45 Broad Street Westerly, RI 02891 . You may also change your mailing address via email on our website or fax 401-348-2616.

This is a Federal Law that exempts active duty service men, women, and their spouses from paying local motor vehicle tax. The exemption is not open to their dependents, and only exempts them for the actual time they are stationed here. Once you transfer to your next permanent duty station, you are required to register your vehicle or trailer in your new state of residence and return your RI plates This is a Federal Law that exempts active duty service men and within 30 days. You will be responsible for any taxes that accrue after the30 days. You can visit the DMV website (www.dmv.ri.gov) for specifics on howto cancel your registration and return your license plates. For filing requirements, please see the SSCRA information, located in the Exemption section.

Rhode Island requires a revaluation every three years; statistical revaluations in years three and six, with a full revaluation in year nine. More frequent revaluations provide the opportunity to make assessments better reflect market value, which is more equitable for property owners. Rapid shifts in the real estate market are better recognized by more frequent revaluations.

Yes it can. If the status of a property changes, such as conversion from a multi-family home to condominium ownership, or if there are alterations to a property such as an addition or renovation, then the value could change.

Pursuant to Chapter 44-5-13.19 entitled “Assessment and Taxation of New Real Estate Construction” your property was required to be reassessed upon completion and/or occupancy of the new construction. This new construction, which was completed subsequent to the assessment date of December 3l, is liable for pro-rated tax. The pro-rated tax is the difference between the December 31 assessment and the total value at the time of completion or occupancy. Pro-ration applies only to newly constructed buildings of new occupancy, not new additions to existing structures.

There are several methods of appealing your assessment. Firstly, if it is a reassessment year, you may appeal directly to the revaluation company and request an explanation of your assessment and discuss any inaccuracies with them. After discussing it with them, you may also appeal to the Town Assessor within the timeframe provided under the Rhode Island General Laws, which starts the day the first quarterly payment is due, and extends ninety (90) days from that day.

The Assessor’s role in this process is to verify that all the data on file is correct. For example, if the field card states that you have two full baths and you only have a bath and a half, then the Assessor will correct that information and your assessment would see a decrease. If all the information is correct, the Assessor may deny your appeal and give you the opportunity to appear before the Board of Assessment Review to state why you still believe that the assessment is still incorrect. You will be given the opportunity to state your case before the board. You will be given a finite amount of time to provide the Board with evidence which support your claims and to answer any questions that the board members may have. The Board will deliberate and you will be notified of their decision by mail.If you are still aggrieved after receiving the Board's decision, you may file inSuperior Court.

According to RIGL 44-7-7.1 your tax bill is mailed to whichever address is listed on your deed under the section “Grantee’s Address”. If no address is provided, then it is mailed to the property’s physical address. If you wish to change your address, the Assessment Department does require that you submit this request in writing. Please provide the account number, property address and where you would like all future mailings to be forwarded, sign, and date the request and forward it to The Assessment Department, 45 Broad Street Westerly, RI 02891. You may also change your mailing address via email on our website or fax 401-348-2616.

Accurate property lines are typically found using professional surveys. The approximate property lines on the Assessor’s maps are for assessment purposes only and are not for conveyance. Chain of Title cards are available in the Assessor’s office that may provide ownership history and deed references for legal descriptions.

You are taxed on the furniture, fixtures, equipment, and leasehold improvements used in day to day business operations. These assets are depreciated according to a schedule determined by the State of Rhode Island.

Each year in early December the Assessor’s office mails the Annual Return to the Assessor to every business that is actively on the Tax Roll. This form is used by business owners to declare what assets they hold. They are depreciated using the State of RI’s schedule and your tax bill is generated from these figures.

In order to close your business and be taken off the active tax roll, you must fill out a Affidavit of Personal Property Status form, which can be obtained from the Assessment Department. This document should be filed within 30 days of closing your business.

As with real estate accounts, all change of address requests must be in writing. Please include your business name, account number and location, and indicate where you would like all future mailings to go. These requests must be signed and dated and should be addressed to the Assessment Department, 45 Broad Street Westerly, RI 02891.

The tangible accounts are always for the previous calendar year. For example, Annual returns mailed in December are for that calendar year and that information will be used to generate a tax bill the following July.

Your first stop should be the Zoning Official's office, located on the lower level of the Town Hall, to register your business, secure a zoning certificate and to fill out a Certificate of Ownership to declare a trade name. Then visit the Town Clerk's office for all license forms and information on how to proceed. You may want to familiarize yourself with the common forms and overall process by visiting the Forms page of this website.

The Employer Identification Number (EIN), commonly referred to as a Federal Tax ID Number, is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. You may apply for an EIN in various ways, including online. This is a free service offered by the Internal Revenue Service. The EIN should be applied for early on in the process, as you will need to supply the number on various forms and applications. Contact the State of Rhode Island Division of Taxation to obtain a sales tax permit to make sales in Rhode Island. This should be done prior to obtaining business license applications. IRS website

Application should be made no later than three months in advance of the desired date for opening a business. All inquiries should be directed to the Town Clerk's office to determine if a license is required, if licensing board approval is required, if there is a need for a public hearing and what approvals are required from other town officials.

The Zoning Official’s Office, located on the lower level of the Town Hall, maintains the maps showing the various business zones. The Town’s GIS (Geographical Information System) maps are a valuable tool and available online. Parcel maps, zoning areas, aerial views are all available, free of charge.

If a business is to be incorporated, the process should be started before filling out the Certificate of Ownership. That will ensure the information provided on the Certificate of Ownership is accurate. Contact the Secretary of State's office-Corporations Division to get assistance with the process.

If your application is one that requires Licensing Board approval, approvals of proper authorities are not required prior to appearance before the Licensing Board, but are required in order to receive your license.

The primary contact in Human Resources is the Human Resources Specialist. Whom you can reach at 401-348-2537 or by e-mail at HR@westerlyri.gov. If you have a general non-time sensitive question you can always e-mail the general HR account at HR@westerlyri.gov.

As with most organizations, the Town uses a variety of benefits partners to deliver and administer our benefits. The HR Departments role is to act as a facilitator between our employees and those third party administrators. Often times due to HIPAA, privacy, or banking laws, HR can only assist up to a point, and then the issue/case needs to be referred to our TPA. However, if you have an issue, please do not hesitate in contacting HR first to see if we can assist you.

The first step is to contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI at the customer service number on the back of the card. That number is 1-800-639-2227. If they can not resolve your issue, or you need someone to assist you in making that call, please feel free to contact HR.

Your Health Savings Account (HSA) is actually a bank account that is partnered with your medical plan. Due to banking regulations, there is very little information that HR has about your HSA and very limited access to assist. Your primary contact is London Health Administrators, which you can contact at 1-800-343-2236. If you need assistance in contacting them, please feel free to contact the HR office.

The Town's Human Resources Departments processes and handles payroll issues for the Town of Westerly and the School Department. Please contact the Senior Payroll and HRIS Specialist at 401-348-2506 or via e-mail at payroll@westerlyri.gov.

The Human Resources Department has an open door policy and welcomes all employees who have questions or need to speak with our staff. Due to the unique and diverse nature of the Town's operations; often times, Human Resources staff is off-site working with other Town departments. If you drop by and an HR staff member is not in the office, please feel free to send us an e-mail at HR@westerlyri.gov, as all members of the HR department read and respond to that e-mail address. Alternatively, you may call 401-348-2537 and leave a voice-mail.

Benefits of the online process for applicants, hiring departments and the Town of Westerly far outweigh any advantages of a manual application process. These include:- 24/7 access from any internet connection- Eliminates the risk of not receiving or misplacing an application- More consistent applicant tracking information- Process to fill a position is more efficient, requiring less processing time- Reduces redundant work of processing, printing, copying and distributing paper applications and resumes.

Town jobs are posted as they become available. There is typically a minimum posting period of five days. If you would like to receive notifications of when a job is posted, you can subscribe to job opportunities Notify Me option. Job Notifications

Based on the quantity and quality of applicants, the Town reserves the right to screen above the minimum qualifications for the position. This practice often results in raising the criteria; such as, the education level is increased, the number of years of required experience is increased, the preferred qualifications listed in the advertisement are used, or any combination of the above.

Candidates are encouraged to review the entire job announcement, and ensure their application materials clearly reflect how they meet the criteria outlined in the job description, and when listed, how they meet the preferred qualifications.

Due to the volume of applications received, the Human Resources Department is unable to respond to status requests of individual applications. The most qualified candidates are selected to move on in recruitment processes.

Applicants can check the status of any vacancy they have applied to by going to the Vacancy Status page under Talent Acquisition on the Human Resources Department website.

We do allow credit card payments for moving violations only online, by phone or in person. Please note that there is a credit card convenience fee in addition to your fine if you choose this payment method. Past due violations can only be paid by phone or in person.

If you have a good driving record you may request that your summons be dismissed upon payment of costs by pleading guilty with a good driving record. You must appear in court to request this procedure. “Good driving record” means no moving violations within the three* years prior to the current violation. *Certain restrictions apply. If you are an out-of-state motorist, you must bring a copy of your driving record from that State to your arraignment.

If you are eligible to enter a plea under the “Good Driving Record” statute, a $60 cost will be imposed.

You have the right to appeal any judgment of the Westerly Municipal Court to the Appellate Panel of the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal. You must file a Notice of Appeal within 10 days accompanied by a fee of $25 made payable to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

You may pay by cash or check in person or mail a check or money order made payable to the Westerly Municipal Court, 45 Broad St, Westerly, RI 02891 OR by credit card by clicking on the link below or by calling 1-844-670-9913

Tax bills on newly acquired properties will be sent to the owner of record (as of December 31.) Only if requested by the new owner will it be mailed. Our normal schedule for mailing all bills is late-June. Any person requesting copy of a bill after this date must contact the tax office at taxinfo@westerly.org or 401-348-2523 or 401-348-2524, and a copy will be mailed.

You receive a copy of your bill. If we received a request from your mortgage company,they will be sent the information automatically. We recommend contacting your mortgage company to verify they have received your tax bill.

All tax bills are mailed once a year, approximately the third week of July. In accordance with Rhode Island General Law 44-7-7, "Failure by the collector to send or failure by the taxpayer to receive a notice shall not excuse the nonpayment of the tax or affect its validity or any proceedings for the collection of the tax".

Yes. In accordance with Rhode Island General Law 44-5-8, "If the first installment or any succeeding installment of taxes is not paid by the last date of the respective installment period or periods as they occur, then the whole tax or remaining unpaid balance of the tax, as the case may be, immediately becomes due and payable and carries until collected a penalty at the rate of 12% per annum."

All address changes must be emailed or in writing. Address changes are handled by the Tax Assessor's office. Please email changes to jmisto@westerly.org or mail to the Assessor's Office at 45 Broad Street Westerly, RI 02891. If you have any questions regarding address changes, please give the Assessor's Office a call at (401)348-2543.

No. The Town of Westerly Tax Collection Office is not associated with the fire districts in Westerly. There are seven fire districts in Westerly. Please contact your Fire Districts with any fire tax questions. For further information on the Fire Districts please go to www.WesterlyRI.gov/FireDistricts

If you pay in your taxes person at Town Hall, you can pay by cash, check, MasterCard or Visa. Water/Sewer payments in person are check or cash only, no credit cards. Credit Cards are taken on-line for all tax and water/sewer payments.We are not able to take any form of payments over the telephone.If you need immediate clearance for DMV registration, payment must be certified check or cash.

The Westerly Water and Sewer Department maintains a twenty four-hour service for emergency work only. Westerly Dispatch Center at 401-596-6855 will handle the emergency calls and dispatch the on call duty man to the job site. Please be advised that any work done on private property is subject to a minimum labor charge of $75.00 that will be billed directly to the property owner.

There are a couple of reasons why your water bill is unusually high. The number one reason for most customers with a high bill is a leaking toilet. This is the worst cause for a high water bill! You will need to check for the following things or call a plumber to do it for you.

-If you hear what sounds like your toilet flushing all the time. (sometimes this can be a very faint running water sound) the water in the back tank is not stopping below the overflow. This means that the water level is too high and is constantly filling up. To stop this, gently bend the rod down. (Note: the rod has the ball attached to it, and some newer toilets may no longer have this ball system.)

-In the back tank, there is a flapper. If the flapper doesn’t sit properly after flushing, this could mean that it is either old or cracked. You must fix this immediately because the water is bypassing the flapper, which causes your toilet to waste a lot of water. Unlike the previous problem, you may not be able to hear this happening, so it is wise to check for this problem periodically.

-On your water meter there is a leak detector. When looking at the top of your meter, you will see a small red triangle. While there is no water being used in the house, watch this triangle for a few minutes. If it is moving at all, then you have a leak somewhere in your house, drawing water through the meter.

Outside your house: - There could be a water main break on a water main servicing your area. It may be a problem we are already working on, or it may be a problem that is just starting and we have not been notified of yet. If your notice water coming out of the ground in front of your house, or in your neighborhood, please call the water department. -There could be an unauthorized opening of a fire hydrant in your neighborhood.

Inside your house: -Check for a clogged screen on one of your faucets. -Check faucets to see if they are leaking. -Run just cold water, then run hot water. If the discoloration (and there may be associated odor also) is only with your hot water, you may have a problem with your hot water heater.

Most properties are billed every six months. The exceptions are some commercial properties with a high water volume, and certain properties that remove their meters every winter. Different areas of town are billed at different times of the year.

-Once the bill is issued, you have 35 days from the issue date to pay this bill before interest starts accruing. Once the bill is past the due date, interest will start accruing on a daily basis, going back to the date of issue, not the due date. This interest will keep accruing on any portion that remains unpaid.

-To pay your bill you may send in a check or money order with your account number written on it to the address on the bill, or you may respond in person to the Tax Collectors office at 45 Broad Street to pay in person. -If you wish, you may also pay your bill by credit card via phone 1-800-272-9829 (Our jurisdiction code is 4910) or on-line at www.officialpayments.com. -Please note: there will be a charge for these last two options

Some people are eligible for an exemption of the State Surcharge on their water bill. The requirements for Elderly exemption are:

-The homeowner must be 65 years of age or older. -The homeowner must reside in the home, and that property is their primary residence.If it is a multifamily dwelling, you are only eligible for a partial exemption. -A surcharge exemption form must be filled out either at the town hall at 45 Broad Street or at the Water Department at 68 White Rock Road. -Proof of age and residency must be provided. -The exemption can only be provided after this form is filled out. Back credits can not be provided on bills already issued to you.

If you are purchasing a house that is already built, it is very important for your attorney to call us for a final water bill on that property. This ensures that the water and sewer is up to date before you take title of the property. At least 48 hours prior to the closing, your attorney should call us with the following information: -Current owner of the property -Address of the property -Name of parties purchasing the property with correct mailing address for billings.

We will get a reading from the properties water meter and fax a bill to your attorney for the closing. This ensures that they collect the monies due from the prior owners.If we are not notified of the closing, you as the new homeowner will be responsible for any outstanding water and sewer bills. These bills stay with the property and transfer with ownership.

If you have us remove your water meter and reinstall it on a seasonal basis, please call us at 401-348-2559 or 401-348-2560 at least 48 hours in advance. The charge for this service is $25.00 to remove and $25.00 to install, and you will be billed on an annual basis in December of each year.